Curry Festival Highlights and Reviews

Famous curry restaurants from across Japan

have gathered for an incredible event

that has just begun.

The venue is the sixth floor of Isetan Shinjuku Main Building.

Distant shops that curry geeks

have always wanted to visit

are all gathered here at once.

You can bet all the travel expenses you'd normally pay

entirely on curry.

First, from the farthest shop

coming all the way from Fukuoka,

I ordered a Sri Lankan curry

wrapped in a banana leaf.

In the eat-in area,

there's a water dispenser—

a truly appreciated feature.

The moment you open the wrap,

the fresh scent of leaves and spices rises,

and curries made with beans, meat,

and colorful vegetables

form a huddle

on top of the rice,

combining their individual qualities

to make one cohesive,

united team.

The rice is a rare Sri Lankan

variety of grain called

Keeri Samba rice.

It's a short-grain rice like Japanese rice,

but it's light and fluffy,

and really shows its true worth

when thoroughly mixed with the curry.

The second dish is from a Kyoto biryani spot

I've long been yearning to try.

For the basmati rice, they selectively use

different varieties,

obsessing over every detail to achieve

the ideal cooked texture.

Topped on it, believe it or not,

is mapo tofu. To get straight to the point,

this biryani ranks among the top three

tastiest biryanis in Japan and abroad

that I've had

in recent years.

To encounter this level of quality

at an event venue—

I honestly cannot hide my surprise.

The fluffiness of the rice is supreme,

and both the seasoning and oil balance

are just ideal.

If you pour curry on biryani,

it just ends up

becoming regular curry rice—

and born from that thought,

this mapo tofu topping

completely grabs the hearts of geeks who agree

and refuses to let go.

I usually attend curry festivals

purely as an eater,

but this time, I'm exhibiting for the first time.

Until Monday, August 24,

it's an environment where I can work

while eating curry morning, noon,

and night.

Please come and see me!

I'll be waiting.